Thursday, September 17, 2009

Adebayor handed three-match ban

Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie
Adebayor apologised for the clash on Saturday, but Van Persie was left fuming

Manchester City's Emmanuel Adebayor has been suspended for three matches for violent conduct following his side's win against Arsenal on 12 September.

The striker, 25, caught Robin van Persie's face with his boot during the second half of City's 4-2 home victory.

He misses Sunday's trip to Manchester United and home games against Fulham - in the Carling Cup - and West Ham.

Adebayor also faces an improper conduct charge for his goal celebration in front of the Arsenal supporters.

A separate date will be arranged for a commission to consider that charge, with City having until 30 September to respond.

The club decided against contesting Adebayor's violent conduct charge, enabling the Football Association to implement its fast-track disciplinary procedure.

The Togo international, a £25m summer signing from Arsenal, escaped punishment from referee Mark Clattenburg following his clash with Van Persie, which left the Dutchman with a cut to his face.

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Adebayor said immediately after the match that he was trying to kick the ball, but Van Persie subsequently claimed his former team-mate had deliberately set out to injure him in a "malicious" manner.

City manager Mark Hughes is now facing a striker crisis for Sunday's derby, with Craig Bellamy the only one of the club's senior strikers likely to be available.

Robinho, Roque Santa Cruz and Benjani Mwaruwari are all injured and Carlos Tevez is rated extremely doubtful to face his old club.

On top of the trip to Old Trafford, Adebayor will also sit out the Carling Cup tie with Fulham next Wednesday and a Premier League meeting with West Ham on 28 September.

City have two more weeks to consider the improper conduct charge relating to Adebayor's goal celebration in front of the visiting Arsenal fans after scoring City's third goal.

After the match it emerged that a steward needed hospital treatment after being hit by a flying object following Adebayor's celebrations.

The striker, who apologised for his actions after the match, said emotions "took over me" and that it was "silly" to run up to the fans, but claimed he had been insulted for the whole game.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said on Monday that these instances "don't do the image of the league or football in general any good".

Although Manchester United's Gary Neville was fined £5,000 for a similar offence, when he celebrated in front of Liverpool fans at Old Trafford in 2003, the FA does have the power to suspend players for such behaviour.

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